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Maine Rejects DOJ's Voter Data Requests Over Privacy Concerns

9/10/2025

Center

Bellows Denies DOJ Requests

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows rejected two DOJ requests for personal voter data, citing privacy concerns and insufficient justification.
The DOJ sought sensitive information, including driver's license and partial Social Security numbers for over 1 million Mainers.
Bellows stated that compliance would breach the 1974 Privacy Act and state laws, highlighting the federal government's poor data protection record.
Similar requests have been denied by New Hampshire and Vermont, while Florida has complied.
The DOJ is working with Homeland Security to use voter data for criminal and immigration investigations, raising additional privacy issues.

Right

Governor Defends Voter Data

A legal dispute in South Carolina escalates over the DOJ's request for the state's voter registration database, containing data on over 3.3 million voters.
The governor and Republican leaders oppose the release, prompting court intervention after a resident obtained a temporary block.
The DOJ argues the data is essential to enforce a Trump executive order targeting "non-citizen voter registration."
This case highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over voter data and election integrity.
The outcome could establish a precedent for similar disputes in other states regarding federal data requests.

History

Historical Context

The Privacy Act of 1974 established crucial protections for personal data held by federal agencies, influencing state regulations on data privacy. This framework is evident in recent events, such as Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows denying DOJ requests for voter data and ongoing legal disputes in South Carolina, highlighting tensions between state sovereignty and federal oversight in election integrity.

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Bellows Denies DOJ Requests

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows rejected two DOJ requests for personal voter data, citing privacy concerns and insufficient justification.
The DOJ sought sensitive information, including driver's license and partial Social Security numbers for over 1 million Mainers.
Bellows stated that compliance would breach the 1974 Privacy Act and state laws, highlighting the federal government's poor data protection record.
Similar requests have been denied by New Hampshire and Vermont, while Florida has complied.
The DOJ is working with Homeland Security to use voter data for criminal and immigration investigations, raising additional privacy issues.

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